Method of casting printing-cylinders.



N0. 662,856. Patented Nov. 27,1960.

E. HETT;

METHOD OF GASTINGPRINTING CYLINDERS.

(Applicatiunfiled Jan. 5, 1899.) (No 6661.1 6 Sheets-Sheet l.

INVENTOR lam/141L ATTO R N EY J THE mom's virus can Pnc'ruuwoq wnsnmcmu, n. c.

Patented Nov. 27, I900.

E. HETT..

METHOD OF CASTING PRINTING CYLINDERS.

(Application filed Jan. 5, 1899.;

6 Sheets-Sheet 2.

(NolndaL) I INVENTOR MMI BY W WITNESSES:

ATTORNEYJ n Noam PETERS co, PHOTO LITHOu WASHINGTON. n. c.

No. 662,856. Patented Nov. 27, I900. E. HETT.

METHOD OF CASTING PRINTING CYLINDERS.

(Application filed Jan. 5, 1899.). (No Model.) 6 Sheets-Sheet 3.

'FI IIII-IIIIIIIIIII INVENTOR ATTORNEY ms scams PETER$ ca. PHQTO-LII'HO., wAsmNsTom n c,

No. 662,856. Patented Nov. 27, 1900. E. HETT.

METHOD OF CASTING PRINTING CYLINDERS.

- (Application filed Jan. 5, 1899.) (No Model.) 6 Sheets-Sheet 4.

V I ll ll l INVENTOR MW ATTORNEYJ k m m mwu mw mw m M M. V a! Mm 7 m W T w NN w T x IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII WITNESSES:

No. 662,856. Patented Nov. 27, I900. E. HETT.

METHOD OF CASTING PRINTING CYLINDERS.

(Application filed Jan. 5, 1899., No Model.) 6 Sheets-Sheet 5.

INVENTOR WWW BY WW ATTURNEYJ m2 NORRIS PETERS co. mom-urns" WASHINGTON, a. c.

Patented Nov. 27, I900. E. HETT.

METHOD OF CASTING PRINTING CYLINDERS.

(Application filed Jan. 6, 1899.)

6 Sheets-Sheet 6.

(No Model.)

NVENTOR WW W ATTORNEYJ WiTNESSES:

.I have successfully carried into effect my new method, and illustrating the manner in which form part of this specification, and in IE TAIFS Ferment trims.

EDWARD IIET'l, OF NE\V YORK, N. Y.

METHOD OF CASTING PRlNTlNG GYLlNDERS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 662,856, dated November 27, 1900.

Application filed January 5, 1899.

To (0 whom, it may concern.-

Be it known that I, EDWARD HETT,( f New York, (New Dorp, in the county of Richmond and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Methods of Casting PrintingForms, of which the following is a specification.

My present invention relates to the making of a metallic printing-tube having a uniform printing-surface and designed for use in relief, planographic, or intaglio printing.

It has for its main object to provide for use a printing cylinder or tube which can be easily applied to the form-support of a press, so as to cooperate with the impression-surface of a press and do perfect work,which can be cheaply renewed, as to its printing-sum face, for the production of new designs, and which will greatly expedite and improve the results desirable in the art of printing; and it consists in the novel method of creating or producing such printing tubes or cylinders, which will be found hereinafterfullydescribed and which will beparticularly pointed out in the claims of this specification.

To enable those skilled in the art to which my invention most nearly appertains to understand and practice my new method of making printing-cylinders, I will now proceed to more fully describe the same, referring by letters to the accompanying drawings,

which I have shown the apparatus with which which (as well as the mechanical means by which )I have so farpracticed said new method of making printingcylinders.

In the drawings, Figure l is a side elevation of an apparatus such as I have successfully used in effectuating my new method and which constitutes the best means now known to me for carrying out my invention. Fig. 2 is a top view of the same. Fig. 3 is a vertical section of the same, taken on a plane indicated by the broken line 0000 of Fig. 2. Fig. at is a cross-sectional view in a plane indicated by the line 3 y of Fig. 2 looking in the direction indicated by the half-arrow at said figure. Fig. 5 is a perspective view,

mainly of the molding-chamber, showing the same with its hinged parts opened out.

serial No. 701,196. (No model.)

6 is a view, partly in elevation and partly in vertical central section, of the machine or apparatus seen in the other views with a slight modification, illustrating mainly the absence of a copper lining from the cast tubular printing device, and as a result the production of such printing device without any lining. In these several figures the same parts will be found always designated by the same letter of reference. Fig. 7 is a perspective view of one of my new tubular printing devices in its preferred form, the product of my new method of making such devices. Fig. 8 is a cross sectional view of the same on an enlarged scale, illustrating also the combination of the same with the interior form-support of the press.

Mounted upon a sufficiently strong rigid base-plate A, that is preferably supported by integrally-cast feet or footpieces a, is a melting-pot, cylinder, or chamber B, the annular foot-flange b of which is securely bolted to the said base-plate A, and within the said cylindrical chamber is concentrically arranged the cylindrical melting-pot or metal receptacle G, which is so arranged concentrically within the chamber B as to leave an annular space between its exterior and the interior of said chamber and also a space between the exterior of its bottom and the bottom of said chamber B, which space is filled in with some suitable refractory material,

by preference fire-clay, as clearly shown in the drawings, (see particularly Fig. 3,) and the said melting pot or receptacle 0 is firmly supported or held in place concentrically within the fire chamber B by means, as shown, of four (more or less) radially-projecting integral arms 01, the outer ends of which rest upon and are securely bolted to the annular top flange c of the chamber B. The said melting-pot C is provided at one point with a radially-projecting tubular part c, which contacts at one point with the inner surface or wall of the chamber B, (see particularly Fig. 3,) which is perforated at this point for the accommodation of a tubular conduit '1", which communicates with the part c of the melting-pot and serves to conduct the melted metal therefrom in a manner and for a purpose to be presently described.

Above the fire-chamber B, with its com- 7 of said piston-rod f is provided with a piston or plunger F, which fits and works vertically within the cylindrical melting-pot 0, all as clearly shown. The said cylinder is of course provided with the necessary and proper stufling-box devices in its lower head, through which the said piston-rod works, and it is also provided with a gage is, suitably connected by a tube j with the upper head of the cylinder, for the purpose of indicating the degree of pressure exerted by any medium which may be used to drive the piston e of said cylinder.

L is a supply-pipe communicating through the medium of a suitable valvular device N, provided with a handle 0, with a vertical pipe M, the upper and lower branches of which communicate, respectively, at the upperv and lower heads of the cylinder E with the interior of the latter, and through the medium of these last-named devices said cylinder may be supplied with a proper medium for driving its piston e in either direction, as may be required, and for a purpose to be presently explained. In the case shown this cylinder E, with its connections and appliances, operates as a hydraulic engine to move upwardlyand downwardly at the pleasure of the attendant of the machine and with any requisite power the plunger F of the melting-pot C; but in an apparatus for carrying into effect my invention some other medium than hydraulic pressure may of course be employed for the purpose of moving this plunger.

I have shown by broken lines the supply of molten zinc in the pot or chamber 0, which supply, as illustrated, should not reach a higher level than the lower ends of the escape ports or passages g (see Fig. 3) of said melting-pot, which ports communicate at their upper ends with the annular fire-chamber or space between the melting-pot and the inclosing cylinder B, which annular space is more or less open at the upper end, as seen at '10, Fig. 2, to permit the escape of the gaseous productions of combustion from the said annular fire-chamber. G is a pipe for the supply to the said annular fire-chamber of combined gas and atmospheric air, the supply being regulated by an ordinary valvular device or cook at h and passing from the said supply-pipe to a network of vertically and horizontally arranged piping H, from which project through the side walls and also through the bottom of the cylindrical chamber B a series of burners i, from which flames are injected into the mass of fire-clay which fills the space around and beneath the melting-pot O, as shown, and which is kept by the said burners i in the properly incandes cent state to sufficiently heat the charge of zinc within the said melting-pot. On the same metallic base-plate A upon which is mounted, as above described, the chamber B, with its melting-pot and overhead compression-cylinder, is arranged a molding-chamber P, which is made in two parts hinged together at the point nearest to the said chamber B by means of female articulate members '22 and n, projecting from the respective portions of said two-part molding-chamber and properly combined, as shown, with the vertical male members or pintle-like devices m, the lower one of which is securely fastened to the base-plate A, from the top surface of which it projects upwardly, as shown, and the two portions of this molding-chamber P are provided at points diametrically opposite the hinges thereof with a set of radially-projecting lugs 0, with one set of which are pivotally connected, as shown, locking or clamping bolts 19, by means of which the hinged parts of said molding-chamber are securely fastened together, as seen at Figs. 1, 2, 3, and 6, and by the loosening and swinging out of which clamping-bolts, as shown at Fig. 5, the hinged parts of said molding-chamber may be swung apart, as illustrated in the lastmentioned figure, for the purpose of extricating from the chamber the casting which may have been made therein. Each of the parts of this molding-chamber is made, as shown, with hollow vertical walls and a cellular bottom portion, the said hollow spaces being filled in with fire-clay, as illustrated in the drawings, for a purpose to be presently described, and the interior of said moldingchamber P is connected at its lowermost portion through the medium of the conduit 7', herein before referred to, with the interior of the melting-pot O, as plainly shown, (see Fig. 3,) and the said connection or communicating tube r is provided near its middle with a cutoff or valvular device U (operated, preferably,by a screw-stem andhand-wheel, as seen at Figs. 3 and 6) for the purpose of permitting or preventing the flow of molten metal from the melting-pot to the interior of said moldingchamber, as occasion may require. Around the said molding-chamber P is arranged a network of piping H very similar to that used in connection with the fire-chamber B, but connected only with the movable parts of said molding-chamber and flexibly connected, as seen at K, with the said system of piping H through a branch pipe J, a short distance below which branch pipe is located a suitable valvulardevice or cook I, by means or which the supply of combined air and gas afiorded from the piping I-I may be at pleasure turned onto or ofi from the piping H of the molding-chamber, and from the said piping 11 projects radially only into said molding-chambera series of burners 2' which discharge their fiame-jetsinto the annularspaces or cellular portions of the molding-chamber, which, as clearly illustrated in the drawings, are filled with fireclay to be heated up by the flame-jets to any desired degree for the purpose of keeping the interior of the mold hot, for a purpose to be presently explained.

S is a cast-iron core, which is mounted centrally in the mold. It is accurately shaped exteriorly to exactly reproduce in the mold the exterior shape and size and dimensions of the interior supporting parts of the press, designed later to support the tubular printing devices in the press. As shown in the drawings, the core S is tapered from end to end as the form-supports of the press are tapered, the upper end of the core being the smaller in diameter.

Q is a cold-Water-su pply pipe, which is permanently arranged in the base-plate A of the machine, with its upper end projecting slightly up within and tapped into the castiron core S of the mold, (see specially Figs. 3 and 4,) which core S has an axial bore or passage-way R running through it, the upper portion of which bore is provided with a bushing s, screwed into the core and formed with a tapering upper orifice, within which fits the correspondingly-tapered lower end of an exit-pipe T, which, as shown, is preferably formed with an elbow,the outer arm of which is pivotally connected with a waste-pipe, so that the said bent exit pipe T may be either set in connection with the bushing s, as shown in full lines, or may be swung up out of connection with said bushing, as illustrated by the dotted lines at Figs. 3 and 6. By means of this arrangement of devices a supply of cold water may at pleasure be afforded to the cast iron core S of the molding-chamber, the said supply of water being let on preferably at the lower end of the supply-pipe Q (as indicated by the half-arrow at Fig. 1) under suf ficient pressure to keep up a circulating supply, thence through the bore R of the core S, and thence upwardly and away from the ma chine through the connected exit-pipe T and a suitable waste or discharge pipe.

In the molding-chamber, (illustrated in Figs. 1 to 5 of the drawings,) 15 is a copper tube which is to constitute the inner strengthening-shell of the composite tubular printing device of my invention. It is accurately prepared internally to fit the interior supporting parts or form-supports of the press. Consequently it [its accurately and snugly onto the core Set the molding apparatus and is supported internally by said core and from end to end and at all points. The exterior of the copper tube is preferably made perfectly cylindrical and circumferentially continuous, (so that said copper tube is of slightly-greater thickness at its upper end or mouth than at the lower end,) and the arrangement and pr0- portions of the parts are such, as shown, that between the exterior of said copper tube thus fitting exactly onto the tapering core S and the inner, cylindrical, and continuous wall of the two-part molding-chamber P there occurs an annular space equal in thickness to the designed or proposed thickness of the zinc tube to be cast in said molding-chamber, into which tubular space the molten metal is forced, as will be presently explained. At Figs. 3 and a this annular space is represented by the broken lines as being occupied by the molten zinc up to the same level as the molten mass in the pot O. The inner walls of the moldingchamber P are carefully and uniformly fin ished to a uniform and planographic surface and to the exact character and textures of surface desired on the outer or printing surface of the casting.

In the general operation of the apparatus illustrated for carrying into effect my new method and thus far herein described with reference toits construction and the arrangement of its several parts, the melting-chamber C having been supplied with the proper charge of metallographic metal,such as zinc orzinc alloy or other metal having the properties which adapt it for use in the same manner as lithographic stone, and said charge heated up to the proper degree by the appliances already explained, the gaseous and other products of combustion of the fire-chamber escaping from the open portions of the annular space containing the fire-clay, and the molding-chamber having had its parts securely fastened together after the proper application to the cast iron core of the copper tube or cylinder before mentioned, and the supply of cold water having been put in circulation through the core of the molding-chamber, when the molten mass in the meltingpot shall have reached the proper liquid state for the casting operation and the molding-chamber been properly heated by the appliances hereinbefore mentioned, the valvular device or gate at U in the connecting-pipe 7' having been opened, the molten metal flows or is forced from the melting-po't through said conduit r into the arm ular space between the inner uniformly and carefully finished wall of the molding-chamber P and the external surface of the copper tube in the mold and is forced to ascend through said annular space and fill the same by reason of the plunger F of the hydraulic or other cylinder being forced down within the melting-pot to a sufficient extent not only to force the molten metal upwardly within the molding-space of the chamber P, but to also force and hold the molten metal within said chamber under a sufficiently high degree of pressure to insure the casting of a perfect zinc tubular device without any irregular superficial orother porosity and of such surface texture as is desirable and necessary for the purpose for which I make these hollow tubes.

As will be seen by reference to Fig. 3, any air or combined air and gases which may be contained in the small cylindrical space between the top of the molten metal in the melting-pot and the base of the plunger F will be caused by the initial descent of said plunger to pass upwardly and out of the melting-pot through the escape ports or passages g, and after the periphery of the plunger shall have passed the lower ends of said ports and come into cont-act with the top surface of the mass of molten metal further communication between said ports and that part of the melting-chamber which contains the molten material will be cut off and the mass of metal forced downwardly within the chamber 0 and upwardly within the molding chamber P under any desired degree of pressure. In practice I hold the metal in the moldingchamber thus under hydraulic or other considerable pressure (by means of the plunger F) until the metal within the mold shall have partially or completely solidified, whereupon by manipulating the cut-01f gate U, thus closing communication between the mold and the melting-pot, the pressure on the metal in the latter may be removed. At the same time by keeping the molding-chamber hot by the appliances hereinbefore described the castzinc tube is not permitted to solidify or cool too rapidly, especially at the vicinities of its exterior or peripheral surface. Inasmuch as the core S is kept comparatively cool by the cold-water-circulating device, the copper cylinder, which is to ultimately constitute the lining of the composite printing-tube, is not so much heated as the mass of molten metal and is sooner cooled, and therefore in the final cooling and necessary contraction of the molten metal into a zinc tube the latter will practically be shrunk onto the copper tubular lining, at which time the copper tube is firmly supported at every point against collapse or distortion. Thus is elfectuated a strong and perfect union and integration between these two separate tubular devices, which is of course of great advantage. It will be understood, of course, that in the manipulation of the different devices of the machine shown and described the supply of heat, both to the fire-chamber for melting the zinc and to the molding-chamber, in the process of casting the zinc cylinder is to be controlled and regulated according to the judgment and experience of the operator of the machine or contrivance. During the casting process or operation to permit the escape from the interior of the mold of air or gas or impurities that may be forced out by the rising metal I have provided at v a valvular vent, which may be opened and closed as occasion may require, and it will be seen that by the use of some such machine as I have shown and described in the manner set forth the result is the production of a zinc tube or hollow cylinder which, though of comparatively slight thick ness, (usually a little more than an eighth of an inch,) will be perfect in form or outline and with a surface of a uniform degree of density, so that it has to be neither turned, bored out, nor exteriorly prepared to possess a fit condition for use for the purpose for which I design such zinc tubesnamely, to constitute the cylindrical printing-s11 rface for relief or planographic or intaglio printing, for which'purpose the uniform surface of the cast tube has only to receive the impression or design and then to be properly etched according to the usual method or process of etching or routed outor properly developed otherwise into the character of printing-surface desired. After the casting shall have sufficiently cooled or solidified within the molding-chamber the latter has its hinged parts swung open (after having released the clamping bolts or devices) into the condition illustrated at Fig. 5, whereupon after cutting ofi the supply of cold-water circulation and swinging up and out of the way the exit-pipe T the sprue or connection between the lower end of the finished casting and the stock of zinc in the contiguous end of the supply-tube 7 may be sawed or cut ofi, and thereafter the finished casting, with its firmly-attached copper lining, may be readily removed with the slightlytapering core S of the molding apparatus and the latter then slipped out from the composite tube.

According to my new methodI can produce numerous tubes with continuous cylindrical printing-surfaces which will all perfectly fit on the form-supports of the press.

When the copper tube-lining is used, it is carefully made internally to begin with and at great expense, so as absolutely to fit on the form-supports of the press, and so on the core S of the casting apparatus, and preferably it tapers evenly from end to end to fit a correspondingly-tapered. form-support, and it may be used and reused an indefinite number of times without losing its shape or size.

Where the tube is made wholly of zinc, reliance is placed for the accurate internal as well as external shaping of the tube upon the method of casting herein shown, (see particularly Fig. 6,) the core S shaping the tube internally and the inner Walls of the mold P shaping the tube externally and determining its surface character and texture.

Figs. 7 and 8 show the improved tubular printing device in its preferred form. Referring to those figures, A is the removable and renewable outer cast part of the composite tube and constitutes the printing-surface, and B is the permanent innerstrengthening-shell, which accurately fits the interior form-supports of the press and on which the outer shell A is cast and shrunk, the two being integrally united. The shell :B is internally tapered from end to end to correspond to the external taper on the form-sup ports of the press and on the core S and so as to be at all times and at every point suitably supported internally not only during the casting operation, but also during the developing and printing operations. The form-support of the press is shown in section in Fig. 8 at D. In practice the composite tubular device is removable from and replaceable on the form-supports of the press and is adjustable in both directions on such formsupports or with such supports in the press, as set out fully by me in applications heretofore filed by me. Fig. 8 illustrates the mounting of a tubular printing device made by my new method upon aform-support of the press.

In carrying out my invention with the copper-lined form of tube I first permanently and with painstaking care draw and turn and bore and shape internally, with an internal taper running from end to end, the copper tube that is to constitute the hollow inner strengthening-shell of the composite tubular printing-form, so as to permanently adapt the form to the interior form supporting devices of the press, preferably making the copper tube cylindrical exterior-1y. I then integrally apply to the outer surface of the copper tube a separate printing-surface by casting, as heretofore set out, the, mold having internally a peripheral uniformly and carefully finished planographic surface adapted to come into contact with and give shape and texture to the outersurface of the cast metal and so to shape the composite printing-form exteriorly, the mold being accurately shaped and finished to that end, so as to adapt this outer or printing surface of the printing-form to the cooperating printing parts of the press.

It is among the advantages of my invention that I may thereafter proceed as follows: I suitably transfer the design or picture to be printed to this external planographic surface of the printing-tube and by suitable etching, or etching and routing, or by other suitable steps I then develop that surface into a relief printingsurface, or into a planographing printing-surface, or into an intaglio printing-surface, according to the character of printing desired, or sometimes into one and sometimes into another character of print-ing-si'u'face. I then print the desired edition from the tubular printing-surface as developed. I then turn off on a lathe or eat oif with acids or otherwise remove the outer or printing surface of the composite tube either down to the copper or not, as desired, care being taken not to affect or modify the interior shape or dimensions of the inner copper shell. I then integrally apply a second printing-surface by casting, as before, the mold determining, as before, the exterior shape and dimensions and surface character of the printing-surface and in such way as to again constitute the surface a uniform planographic surface and to adapt it to the cooperating printing parts of the press. I then apply the new design or picture that is to be printed to the tubular surface, develop it into the character of printing-surface desired, and print therefrom, and so on. In this way the exact shape and size of printing-form for proper handling and support and exact register and proper printing in the press may be attained and reliably and cheaply maintained throughout a series of successive printing operations, and a fresh and unused printingsurfaoe may be presented by the printingform for each new picture or design to be printed.

My invention is of peculiar value and importance for the purposes of relief printing and particularly multicolor relief printing.

I do not herein claim the improvements in the art of printing herein shown and described, nor the improved apparatus, nor the improved product, the same being claimed in divisional applications A, B, and O filed or to be filed.

What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-- 1. The method of making metallic planographic surfaces, which consists in preparing a suitable mold, heating the face of the mold which is to form the planographic surface to a high temperature, but not above that at which the metal being cast solidifies, cooling the face of the mold which is opposite that which is heated, and filling the mold with molten 1n etallographic metal,whereby a printingform having a perfect and uniform pianographic surface is produced, substantiallyas described.

2. The method of making metallic planographic surfaces which consists in preparing a suitable mold, heating the face of the mold which is to form the planographic surface to a high temperature, but not above that at which the metal being cast solidifies, cooling the opposite face of the mold, filling the mold with molten metallographic metal and subjecting the molten metal in the mold to great pressure, whereby a perfect and uniform planographic surface is produced, substantially as described.

3. The method of making metallic plano graphic surfaces which consists in preparing a suitable mold, heating the face of the mold which is to form the planographic surface to ahigh temperature, but not above that at which the metal being cast solidifies, cooling the opposite face of the mold, filling the mold with molten metallographic metal, subject ing the metal in the mold to great pressure and maintaining such pressure until the metal in the mold has entirely set, whereby a perfect and uniform planographic surface is produced, substantially as described.

4. The method of making metallic printingforms which consists in preparing a suitable mold, heating the face of the mold which is to form the printing-surface, cooling the opposite face of the mold, filling the mold with molten metallographic metal, whereby a perfect and uniform planographic surface is produced, transferring a design to said surface after the lithographic manner of transferring, and developing said surface into a printing-surface of the character desired.

5. The method of making metallic printing forms which consists in preparing a suitable into a printing-surface of the character demold, heating the face of the mold which is sired. to form the printing-surface, cooling the op- In testimony whereof I have signed my posite face of the mold, filling the mold with name to this specification in the presence of 5 molten metallographic metal, subjecting the two subscribing witnesses. molten metal in the mold to great pressure, 1 whereby a perfect and uniform planographic EDWARD HErlT' surface is produced, transferring a design to Witnesses: said surface after the lithographic manner of EDWIN SEGER,

1o transferring, and developing said surface GEO. W. MILLS, Jr. 

